Suffolk on path to a bright future

FOOTBALL: Taj Suffolk's defensive strength is set to be a force in the state's top tier this year following a "humbling” experience on the international stage.

The 17-year-old recently returned from a two-week invitational tour of the United Kingdom as part of the U19 Australian Schoolboys.

During the tour Suffolk came up against top English and Welsh colleges along with English Premier League and champions league club academies.

The Australian side played a total of nine games across 12 days, winning five, drawing one and losing three.

Suffolk said it was the first time he'd donned the green and gold, and relished the chance to test his mettle in what was a "boyhood dream” at the "home of football”.

"To have the opportunity to represent Australia was something else and the whole exposure it does bring just playing football over there against those kind of sides in the UK was really humbling but exciting at the same time,” Suffolk said.

"Hopefully it won't be the last time that I get a great opportunity like that and I think if I keep working hard then hopefully...I get to put the green and gold on (again) in the long run.”

He said the level of facilities and competition had been "top class”, and was glad to see his side dig deep against some strong competition.

While the quality was high, he believed the Australian grassroots game nurtured the skills to match it.

"I think the Australian boys and the grit that we do have helped us hold our own quite well and we gave them a bit of trouble back,” he said.

While a highly invaluable trip, it's not the first time Suffolk has received a taste of international competition.

He also went to China last year as part of a dominant select Sunshine Coast team and took on teams from South Korea, China, Czech Republic and Thailand.

Adding to what has been a massive 12 months on the field, Suffolk was also part of the regular season premiership title holders, Noosa.

He has a busy 12months ahead as well, with the centre back signing with Olympic FC in the National Premier Leagues Queensland.

A former Sunshine Coast Fire player, Suffolk said he was "very familiar” with the standard of competition.

His ultimate goal is to make the professional ranks of the game, whether it was in the A-League in Australia or other competitions overseas.

"Playing men's football at the moment is much more serious and a quick game which is good and helps me develop my skills quite quickly,” he said.